We watch the second half of a documentary that interviews multiple Baptist ministers as they talk about racism. White, black, and latino pastors, professors, and theologians share what they have experienced, and provide some good ways forward.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 7
We watch part of a documentary this week that interviews multiple Baptist ministers around the country as they talk about racism. White, black, and latino pastors, professors, and theologians share their perspective on history, the Bible, and more.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 7
We read and think more about 19th century Christians' arguments in favor of slavery. Since it was sanctioned in some way by the Bible, their arguments were convincing at the time ("The Bible says so!"). Abolitionist Christians said you should take the whole message of the Bible into account instead. But their argument wasn't as convincing to people. We talk about the argument "But it's in the Bible," and how much sway that carries.
To read the handout of excerpts from two 19th century novels, click here.
To read last week's handout, with quotes from 19th century Christian ministers in favor of slavery, click here.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 6 (1 Cor. 12:12-14, 25-27; 1 Peter 2:18)
How could someone justifying calling themselves a Christian and still own people as slaves? Well, we read how this week. The beliefs that Southern Christians had in the 19th century are hard to hear today. But they believed they were doing God's will based on their biblical worldview. We read some of their arguments and think about them this week.
To read the handout of quotes from Southern Christians in the 19th Century, click here.
To read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 25-27 and 1 Peter 2:18 online, click here.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 5
We celebrate the two truths that everyone is one and the same in Jesus, but that the image of God is expressed in beautiful diversity. When people use worldly divisions to separate and segregate, that is giving in to immature childish selfishness. And yet, so many Christians have prayed that God would uphold such segregation when they prayed that their will would be done instead of God's.
To read the story and discussion question handout, click here.
To read the news article handout, about the history of school desegregation, click here.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 4 (Ex. 21:1-11, 20-21; Gal. 3:22-29)
The world wants us to separate people into groups and label them, but the Way of Jesus is such a unifying power that it removes all those differences. Being in the Body of Christ, ideally, removes the constraints and limitations of our old immature ways (restraints from sin and even from religious laws). So we talk about how God's vision is one that transcends racial divisions, but we recognize that real inequality still exists in the world.
Read Ex. 21:1-11, 20-21 and Gal. 3:22-29 here.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 3 (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:18-27)
We read Bible verses that can be used in wonderful ways, as well as Bible verses that have been used in terrible ways. What does it mean that you and everyone were made in the image of God? And since that's the case, how could people ever justify extreme racial cruelty?
To open/print the handout story this week, click here.
Read Genesis 1:26-27; 9:18-27 here.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, guest speaker
This week we got to hear from Willa Wyatt. Willa is chair of the Friends of the Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School in Madison County. This school, that was built in 1928, has been restored and now serves as a Community Cultural Center and Interpretive Museum intended to promote a fuller understanding of southern Appalachian Black history. Click here to learn more about the history, renovation, and current updates regarding the school.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 2 (Eph 6:5-9; Acts 6:1-7)
Some Bible verses give a great example of overcoming racial differences so that all are blessed. Other Bible verses have been used to support some terrible behavior over the centuries. We'll think about both as we invite ourselves to be the motivators of more Christ-like behavior within the Church as a whole.
Read the week’s passages Ephesians 6:5-9 and Acts 6:1-7 here.
Weekly Bible Study – Talking About Race, part 1
We start a new Bible study series this week, as we talk about race. We'll cover issues like prejudice, racial biases, reconciliation, Bible verses (that have helped or hindered), and how Christians have been involved in race relations (in ways that helped or hindered). This week is an overview, and we look at an image of heaven as our guide: of people from every country/race/language coming together as one.
Reach the week’s passage, Revelation 7:9-10, here.
Book recommendation - The Seven Last Words from the Cross, by Fleming Rutledge
As we approach Holy Week we reflect on the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. Fleming Rutledge has written a beautiful little devotional book with meditations for each word, helping us “to gain a deeper understanding of the horrific death suffered by Jesus.” She includes contemporary references, biblical scholarship, and hymns to guide our thoughts. This book will help to deepen your commitment as a “companion of Christ crucified." It is available for checkout on the library table in the Fellowship Hall.
Come by the Fellowship Hall weekdays 8am-3pm to check out this book or any of the other good reads we have available!
Book recommendation: The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers, by Amy Hollingsworth
In this book, author Amy Hollingsworth shares the insights and faith lessons she learned from her dear friend Fred Rogers. The two met when Amy was asked to interview Mr. Rogers for her job, but they quickly connected and spent the rest of his life keeping in touch through letters. Through the lens of their relationship you will see glimpses of Fred's life as a little boy, a seminary student, a husband, a father, and a friend. You can really see how his faith was central to all aspects of his life.
Come by the Fellowship Hall weekdays 8am-3pm to check out this book or any of the other good reads we have available!
Black History Month reading
Black History Month reminds us how important it is as Christ-followers to learn and to seek understanding of our Black brothers and sisters. One way to gain knowledge is by reading, especially about the history of their struggles. We have several good books on the library table in the Fellowship Hall that can help us be informed so that with God’s help we can work for racial reconciliation. Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. gathers together the most important photographs taken of Dr. King and tells the story of this great leader of the civil rights movement. “In this book, we come to know this thoughtful minister, advocate for peace, public servant and to understand his dream.”
Come by the Fellowship Hall weekdays 8am-3pm to check out this book or any of the other good reads we have available!
Word from the Pastor – Doing the Lord's Work of Healing
The pandemic has put “health” at the forefront of everyone’s minds. “Am I healthy? Am I sick? Is my family healthy?” We’ve worried a lot about what we might have touched and who we were around. It’s why we freak out when we or anyone starts coughing in public. We have health—and sickness—on the brain. Thanks be to God that multiple vaccines are being distributed. It feels like we’re finally getting on track to start improving our physical health as a country. But as my doctor always says during my annual physical, “health” isn’t just physical. It goes deeper. The same is true for our national health as well…………[to continue reading, click View Post above]
A Word from the Pastor – Surviving Election Day
Today is election day. So how should we handle it? Most importantly, be mindful of what helps you and what doesn’t—what gives you peace, and what stresses you out. It will be tempting to watch constant news or scroll social media all day, but I don’t think that will help you feel more peace and less stress. After you have already voted, maybe helped others be able to vote, and the polls have closed, your civic duty is done for the day, so be sure to take care of yourself…… [click View Post above to keep reading]
Word from the Pastor – Our Calling
Here’s some Bible trivia for you: What is the first question that a human asks God in the Bible? I’ll give you some time to think about it… Okay, time’s up. The first question that a human asks God in the Bible comes from Genesis 4:9. It’s when Cain asks, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Good question. ……..[to continue reading, click View Post above]
Need a Good Book? Or Two?
The church staff has pulled some resources from our Church Library and put them on a table in the Fellowship Hall. Come by (8-3:30 Mon-Fri), choose something(s) you would like, write your name on the card along with the date, and return it within 3 weeks. It’s a great time to READ!
Here are some new books added to our collection to help us learn and grow:
Reconstructing The Gospel: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove grew up in the South as a faithful church-going Christian. But he gradually came to realize that the message his Church proclaimed was not good news for everybody. The same Church that sang “Amazing Grace” also perpetuated racial injustice and white supremacy in the name of Jesus. Reconstructing the gospel requires facing the pain of the past and present, from racial blindness to systemic abuses of power. When the gospel is reconstructed, freedom rings for both individuals and society to heal our land.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
The cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African-American community. Theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnection in the history and souls of black folk. Both the cross and the lynching tree represent the worst in human beings and at the same time a thirst for life that refuses to let the worst determine our final meaning. While the lynching tree symbolized white power and black death, the cross symbolizes divine power and black life God overcoming the power of sin and death.
Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas
On the Sunday morning after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, black preachers across America addressed the questions his death raised for their communities: “Where is the justice of God? What are we to hope for?” Kelly Brown Douglas examines the myths and narratives underlying a “stand-your-ground” culture, taking seriously the social as well as the theological questions raised by this and similar events, from Ferguson to New York. As a mother, she writes: “There has been no story in the news that has troubled me more than that of Trayvon Martin’s slaying [because my son] looks like Trayvon.”
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
From one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time comes an unforgettable true story about the redeeming potential of mercy. Bryan Stevenson was a young attorney when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending the poor, the wrongly condemned, and those trapped in the furthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man sentenced to die for a notorious murder he didn’t commit. It transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.
Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson (Adapted for young adults)
This is the young adult adaptation of the #1 bestseller; which the New York Times calls “as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so.” This powerful testament to how one person can make a difference focuses on the redeeming potential of mercy.
Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating For Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard
The United States has more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. Mass incarceration has become a lucrative industry, and the criminal justice system is plagued with bias and unjust practices. Dominique Gilliard explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion. Discover how you can bring authentic rehabilitation, lasting transformation, and healthy reintegration to this broken system.
A Word from the Pastor – “The First Step in Building Peace”
Matthew 10:26-39 always sounded strange to me, because I always pictured Jesus as sweet and smiling, maybe some kids crawling on him, preaching about God’s love and encouraging more peace. And yet in Matthew 10, Jesus announces, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’” That doesn’t fit with the warm fuzzy image of Jesus we’ve put in our heads. What’s going on?…. [click on View Post above to keep reading]
Talking with Kids about Race
For parents: It's never too early to help children learn that as followers of Jesus, we should value all people equally. Click here (or the graphic below) for some guides and resources for talking with kids about race.
Wise Words from Mr. Rogers
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'
"As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has--or ever will have--something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression."